The Mission of the Church - Revelation 11:1-13

The Church is Eternally Protected

Revelation 11:1 ESV

1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there,

Measuring Reed - Used to measure temple, altar, and PEOPLE!

God is “measuring the drapes” “measuring the curtain” - proclaiming early victory and salvation

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

- The Church is the Temple where God dwells

Zechariah 2:1–5 ESV

1 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

- God is a wall of PROTECTION for His people.

Matthew 16:18 ESV

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Revelation 7 MESSAGE IS THE SAME AS THE SEALS

The Church is Temporarily Persecuted

Revelation 11:2 ESV

2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

John 17:14–18 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Limited Time ; In the fullness of Time- 42 months = 3.5 years = a time, times, and half of times; used for general time frame

Illustration - Lamentations - lament for a time, but joy comes in the morning...

The Church is Empowered for Prophecy

Revelation 11:3–10 ESV

3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.

vs. 3 - Two Witnesses - Martyr Witnesses...

1) Martyr Witnesses in Prophecy of God’s Word - vs. 3

vs. 3 - Sackcloth - repentence

vs. 4 - Two Olive Trees and Lamp-stands

Zechariah 2:1–6 ESV

1 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ” 6 Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord.

- The Spirit-empowered Church!

vs. 5-6 Reference to Elijah and Moses - testifying to the glory of God through signs and wonders.

2) Martyr Witnesses in Death - vs. 7-10 - They valued Christ more than their life. -

Luke 9:24 ESV

24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

2 Timothy 4:6 ESV

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

The Church is Resurrected for Praise

Revelation 11:11–13 ESV

11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

the last of that verse — the rest gave glory to the God of heaven — the meaning of the verse.